The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-09-27

OuppOSc, tucll, HO bulty VI bO
much fruitless discussion, which, after all,
decides nothing, you let Saat make trial
of his powers"
At the mention Of his name Saat, who
seemed TO have relinquished hope OF his
offer being accepted, looked up with re-
newed eagerness.
"No, no" quickly objected Father Tenn
pie, ut would be sacrilege to permit such
heathenish rites within our walls"
~ am very doubtful whether he could
succeed" remarked Father Rosie, "for
his helpers being undoubtedly evil spirits,
could have no power to enter within con-
secrated limits"
"You forget that evil spirits may enter
wherever they are made welcome" said
Father Temple, land to give our consent
that their servant should invite them
would be nothing less than to invite them
ourselves"
Nevertheless, If they gave us rain, we
should be the gamers by so much" said
Father Fraize.
"Say rather the losers" returned Father
Temple, "for rain from such n source must
inevitably scorch up all that Is still left
alive, and perhaps even destroy irrepara-
bly, the fertility Of the ground"
81 am of opinion, said Father Bournot,
with an air of profound reflection, that
the ground having been already blessed
with all the ceremonies of our holy church,
no evil spirit could have power to injure
It; and that even il rain were sent with
that intention, the holy water with which
1t has already been sprinkled would neu-
tralize its malignant qualities and turn
into a blessing what was designed as u
CURSE
"That appears to me very reasonable"
said Father Rosie; "and ut any rate, as
the boy has not yet been baptized, do
not see what harm could result from per-
hitting him to make the trial, we mean
while standing by with bell, book and
candle ready to interfere if occasion de-
mands.
can excellent ideal' cried Father Bour
not, rising with alacrity. ''It will be
fine stroke of revenge, too, to make the
devil, who works so often to our injury,
work for once to our profit"
"Foolish man," exclaimed Father Tenn
pie, "as If the devil has not n thousand
subtle subterfuges unfathomable to hui
man penetration
Nevertheless, seeing that the Others
were bent upon the experiment, he made
no further opposition, but, opening his
breviary, began to read attentively, while
the Fathers Bournot and Rosie brought
from the sacristy a basin of holy water,
four blessed candles, lighted taper and
small bell, which the altar boys were ac-
customed to ring during the mass. These,
after much consultation, 1t was decided to
conceal under the bench, lest they should
work counter spell 80 strong as to inter
fere altogether with the COMPUTATIONS OF
Saat; the which being done, the three con-
sentng fathers ranged themselves in
front of their sacred ammunition, each
one carefully clasping his crucifix beneath
q fold in his robe, and Father Fraize indl-
Gated to Saat that he might proceed.
Saat, who had not in the least compre-
hended all these preparations, at once
darted Off to the orangery, whence ne
soon returned with three perfectly limo
cent looking oranges. The holy fathers
exchanged chances of smiling incredulity
at this mild beginning to performance
of such wonderful promise, but
Saat, quite unembarrassed by their
gaze and appearing, indeed, to to-
tally ignore their presence, placed his
oranges upon the ground, carefully meas
uring the spaces between them, then,
withdrawing to a short distance, pros
trated himself before each in turn with
the utmost respect. After saluting in
this reverential manner the representa-
tives of his pagan trinity, the youthful
sorcerer furnished himself with three
small branches from an orange tree, and,
with renewed prostrations, planted one IN
each orange. A third time he went
LII, nyny
genufexions with an unintelligible NUT
tering, probably some cabalistic incanta-
ton; then rising with one of the green
twigs in his hand turned his eyes,
strangely glittering with light more than
human, toward the wind swept sky. High
up against the lustrous blue lowered q
tiny cloud, hardly larger than doves
wing, and transparent as q lady's lace
handkerchief. Saat his small form
seeming to dilate with some mysterious
inward force, fixed his glittering eyes
upon this tiny cloud, ut the same time eX-
tending his orange branch with an mir OF
irresistible command, when, to the utter
amazement of the good fathers, a fine
rain Immediately began to descend upon
the thirsty garden beds.
A few drops, penetrating the interstices
of the arbor, CHANGED to fall upon the
tonsured head of Father Temple, who had
not ceased to read his breviary during all
these mummeries. Springing to his feet
in CONSERVATION, he began to run to and
fro, rubbing his head and crying out that
he was scalded, whereupon Father Rosie,
with admirable presence Of mind, seized
the benitier and drenched him with its
contents. But Father Bournot put
forth his hand and gathering heat curled
vine leaf, in whose hollow q little water
had gathered, boldly drank 1t down, de-
claring it to be cool and sweet as any that
ever fell from heaven in answer to tho
most sanity prayer.
For whole hour the rain continued to